We are concluding a series entitled "Short Sayings of Jesus." Jesus was a master teacher, and He employed many forms of teaching (e.g., lecture, Socratic discussion, parables, etc.). He also uttered short sayings that are easy to memorize and have wide application.
He used two types of short sayings:
Before we look closely at Jesus' mini teaching to His disciples, let's take a closer look at verses 36–37a.
Note the verbs in verses 36–37: “seeing,” “felt,” and “said.” Seeing something ignited Jesus’ heart to feel something, which led Him to do something.
We see this same pattern in two of Jesus’ most famous parables: the Good Samaritan (read Luke 10:33–34) and the Prodigal Son (read Luke 15:20). Other passages show this sequence as well—one of which we’ll look at later.
“See” here refers to more than merely glancing at something or someone. It refers to truly taking something in, letting it register deeply.
In another passage, the verb used is theōreō—to view mentally, to consider, to discern. “Seeing” ignites “feeling.”Comprehending the reality of people's plight generates not a fleeting emotion (like watching a news segment), but a deep, gut-level response. The word often used is splagchnizomai—“to be moved in one’s bowels.”
“Feeling” leads to intentional and redemptive “acting.”
Before we unpack this plan, let’s pause and consider what this pattern reveals about the one true God. This view of God is utterly unique among the world’s religions.
He is not far off—oblivious, distracted, or indifferent. He is El Roi—the God who sees (see Gen. 16:13).
Because He is infinite and personal, God can give His whole attention to each of us as though no one else exists. He sees and knows us completely—infinitely better than we know ourselves (read Psalm 139:1–6). He knows our thoughts, fears, and needs.
He especially sees our plight—whether we admit it or not. We are lost like sheep without a shepherd, helpless like the man left for dead, estranged like the prodigal son. God sees what we may not even admit about our own lostness (read Ephesians 2:12).
But He doesn’t just know us—He is moved by what He knows. The God of the Bible is not emotionless (apatheia); He feels deeply and passionately for each of us.
And because God sees what He sees and feels what He feels, He acts to rescue us:
This is the real God—not a dispassionate observer, not a cosmic force to manipulate, not a finite and fickle projection like the Greco-Roman gods, and not a divine killjoy as He is sometimes caricatured.
He is not “God as I like to think of Him”—He is the God who actually exists.
How will you respond to Him?
Will you:
Now let’s return to Jesus’ mini teaching to His disciples (re-read Matt. 9:37–38). Note two key things:
Their suffering had convinced them that they could not fix themselves. They were spiritually poor, open to the healing leadership of the Good Shepherd. That’s why Jesus calls them a “plentiful harvest.”
There are also entire groups in our community who feel their deep need:
Messy people—but often poor in spirit.
Do you see them?
Jesus says that “the workers are few.” There are so many people who know they need to be rescued that Jesus seeks many under-shepherds who will guide them to the Shepherd.
This is a clear statement of human agency—the fact that God has chosen to work through His people to rescue others. This is both an amazing and gracious privilege, and an implicit call for us to step forward as His under-shepherds, allowing Him to teach us to see, feel, and act like He does.
We see this same pattern in Paul (read and explain Acts 17:16–17).
Paul saw the idolatry in Athens, felt provoked in his spirit—not just angry that God’s name was dishonored, but also deeply moved for the people who were being deceived—and then acted by creatively preaching the gospel.
Lift up your eyes (quote John 4:35) and ask God to open your eyes to the people around you.
Don't distract yourself with another cooking or home-improvement or reality TV show.
Don't narrow your focus only to your family, your friends, or your next vacation.
Jesus sees a plentiful harvest.
And He wants to teach you and me to see it too.
Maybe you don’t want to see because you're afraid that if you do, you'll feel overwhelmed. But if you are willing to ask Jesus to enable you to see, He will also enable you to feel His compassion for those He shows you.
He can give you His heart of love for hurting people—a heart that moves you to reach out rather than shut down, to care rather than simply “help,” to connect with people rather than treat them like a project.
If you let Jesus stir compassion in you, that compassion will move you to action.
Jesus says our first step of action is to pray (Matt. 9:38)—to pray for more workers. This should be a regular part of both our private prayer lives and our corporate prayer gatherings (like our monthly prayer concerts).
Then notice what happens next:
Jesus summoned those same disciples and sent them into the harvest (see Matt. 10:1ff).
If you are willing to pray for laborers with an openness to being one yourself, He will send you—
Ask Him what He wants you to do. And as you step out and act, He will sharpen your vision, deepen your compassion, and increase your effectiveness.
Next session: “He who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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